Product Description

Though the emperor banishes the nightingale in preference of a jeweled mechanical imitation, the little bird remains faithful and returns years later when the emperor is near death and no one else can help him.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #183893 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-01
• Released on: 2002-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 48 pages

From Publishers Weekly
The exquisite jacket-which features delicate red lettering on a damask-patterned gold background and a cutout revealing a painting of a nightingale-sets up high expectations, and both Mitchell (The Frog Prince) and Ibatoulline (Crossing) meet them. Elaborate, harmonious watercolors pay homage to the flat style of Chinese brush paintings with iconic fidelity; brilliant interiors crammed with architectural and sartorial details alternate with muted landscapes and ancient, unchanging rocks and trees. The illustrations sometimes appear in several long panels set side by side, like scrolls hung on a wall. Mitchell's language is light and melodic: just as Death is about to claim the Emperor, "the whole room filled with the most beautiful singing. It was the nightingale, perched on a branch right outside the window. She had heard about the Emperor's sickness and had come to bring him hope and comfort with her song." In one panel, the bird perches on a gnarled pine branch above the ornate porcelain curlicues and red tiles of the imperial palace; the next shows the reviving Emperor, his crown askew and his brocade robes creased, raising himself up to hear the voice of his loyal friend as the specter of Death departs. This volume has a more formal elegance than Jerry Pinkney's recent The Nightingale, and it is just as impressive. Ages 6-10.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-The classic Andersen tale of a songbird's mystical powers is retold in a style meant to be "light, clear, swift, and funny." This updated version includes some new elements, among them an amusing scene in which a search party mistakes the sounds of a cow and frog for the nightingale's song. Contemporary phrases are sprinkled throughout the text. Travelers "ooh" and "ahh" at the sight of the emperor's porcelain palace and gardens. The kitchen girl is promised a "promotion" if she leads them to the nightingale. Eleven butchers' children are named in honor of the bird, including one who is "tone-deaf." The entire kingdom, from the emperor to "rag-a-muffins in the street," "Zee-zee-zee, gloo-gloo-gloo" along with the mechanical bird. Death's visit causes the emperor to break out in a "cold sweat." Unfortunately, these attempts at modernization diminish the tale's lyrical flow. In contrast to the narrative's casual tone, the illustrations are formal and conventional. The Chinese setting is portrayed in paneled mural paintings dominated by elegant jewel tones, and the art adorns rather than enlivens the story. Those looking for a new twist on this old tale should consider Jerry Pinkney's version (Penguin Putnam, 2002) with its dramatic Moroccan setting, lush and lively illustrations, and engaging poetic retelling.
Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. Unlike Jerry Pinkney's beautiful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Nightingale [BKL S 1 02], set in Morocco, this version stays close to the original, with an added punch of satire. In an author's note, Mitchell comments that he tried to re-create the original's "energy, wit, and charm," and his language is playful and funny. At times, the colloquial tone veers into the precious (one has to be "extra-specially careful" in the porcelain palace, for example), but Mitchell does capture the original story's appeal. The text is a long one, which may best suit children who can enjoy Mitchell's exaggerated court titles that good-naturedly mock imperial pomposity--"Chief Imperial Nightingale Bringer," but consider this for its fresh, lively language and for Ibatoulline's stunning paintings. The art borrows heavily from Asian traditions, and with its muted colors and detailed patterns, it fosters a sense of authenticity and mood better than the action and story, but there are riveting, unforgettable images, particularly Death's visit to the emperor's sick bed. A gorgeous new edition. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

The Nightingale
The NightingaleThis is a wonderful childrens story, and this publication has some of the most beautiful illustrations..... My children love reading this story. NT